Inhalation device



J. H. WILLiAMS.

INHALATION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, m9.

' Patented Aug. 9,1921.

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. devlce.

OFFICEQ,

JOSIAH WILLIAMS, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

INHALATION DEVICE.

, Applicationfiled August 6, 1919.

This invention relatesto a device'for use in the treatment of affections or diseases of the respiratoryorgans. by inhalation of medicinal substances. v

The primary object of the lIIVQIltlOII'IS to provide a device which may be supported upon the chest of a recumbent or sleeping patient whereby the healing vapors emanating from a volatilemedicament maybe directed toward the mouth and nostrilsof the patient, so that at all times during the'resplration of the patient the airinspired will be impr gnated with the healing agent.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which is simple, inexpensive and efficient in construction and which may be compactly packed for sale and storage in transportation or'when not in use.

The invention-consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebemghad to the accompanying drawing, in which g Figure l is a view illustratlng the mode of use of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device as set up for use.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe distending frame removed from :the bag or sack.

Fig. l is afront view of the bag or sack with the frame removed therefrom.

- Fig. 5 is a detail sectionshowing the securing tab as used'for holding the frame in collapsed condition.

Fig. 6 is aperspectiveview of the sponge cup. V

Fig. 7 is a toppla-n View of the inhalatlon In carrying my invention into practice I provide an inhalation device comprising a receptacle 1 of somewhat greater length than width and of suitable form and size to rest upon the chest of a recumbent patient, as shown in Fig. 1. This receptacle'may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, and includes a bottom'wall or layer 2, a'top wall or layer' co mposed'of a central portion 3 and end portions 4, and

Specification of Letters I 'atent.

ser al no. 315,678.

in close contact with the chestand conform to the contour thereof, while the wallpor Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

front walls 5 As shown, the bottom: wall" I or layer 2 is composed of an oblong rectangular strip of flexible material adapted to lie tions 2,3, 4: and 5 are also made of flexible 1i material capable of assumin the form of folding so as to permit the receptacle to collapse in substantially flat form when not held distended, sothat it may be conveniently stored when not in use and packed in compact shape in a box or like container for sale or transmission through the mails.

The top wall, composed of the portions 3 shown when the receptacle is distended and i and h may be made, like the bottom 2, of-

a single strip of material, and the front walls 5 may be integral therewith,.it being only necessary that the component partsdescribed be adapted to perform the designed functions and to assume theshape disclosed terial, such as canton flannel, whichis suf-- 'when the receptacle is distended foruse. a

For reasons hereinafter stated, I preferably ficiently porous to permit the animal heat i to pass from th'e'chest of the patient into .the receptacle, and which will also permit vapors generated by such heat to *pass into the receptacle, in cases where the medicapatient. The wallportions 3, 4 and 5, on

. the'contrary, are preferably made of rubberment is applied'directly to the chest of the I upward escape of the heat and vapors and to 51 confine the same. within the receptacle for. discharge only through the outlet 6 thereof.

The receptacle is designed to be held when in use in a distended position by meansof an expansible'" and collapsible or foldable frame '7. This frame is of a length equal to "the-width of the receptacle, but is of restricted width relative to the length of the receptacle, being of a width substantially equal to that or the 'outlet 6 and of the cen tral portion 3 of-the top wall. 7 This frame is substantially V-shaped and comprises-bot tom and top walls or members 8 and 9 connectedby spring hinges 10 at the rear or vertex portion of the frame, said hinges serving to hold the frame members openor spread, as shown in Fig. 3, and adapting them to be closed or folded-in parallel relation. The frame is fitted in the central portion of the receptacle 1 with the vertex porand socket members 12 and 13.

tion thereof bearing against the line of fold between the wall portions 2 and 3, and with the members 8 and 9 lying in contact with said wall portions, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence when the members 8 and 9 are free for spreading motion, the wall portions 3 and 4 (the portion 3 directly and the portion 4: indirectly) will be elevated thus holding the receptacle 1 distended.

In practice the frame 7 may be tacked by stitches at suitable points to the receptacle 1, if it should be desired to have it permanently secured therein, or it may be loosely tted in positionso that it may be removed for greater convenience in cleansing the receptacle when occasion requires. lhe frame is shown as made of wire or reticulated material, but may be made of other suitable material, it being only essential to have the lower member 8 perforate so that the animal heat (and vapors under certain conditions) rising from the breast of the patient may pass upward into the receptacle. For the purpose of holding the frame and receptacle collapsed, a fastening device is provided comprising a flexible tab 11 attached at one end to the front cross bar of the member 9, said tab carrying spring stud ner of the frame member 8 is a strap 14, of.

suitable material, one end of which is fastened to the frame and provided with a buckle15 to whichthe free end of the strap may be fastened. These straps are designed to be looped about the shoulders of the patient, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the inhaler may be held in operative position for use and prevented from becoming displaced by the body movement of the wearer orby shifting of the bed clothing. It is obvious that the spring hinges 10 may be strong enough to hold the wall 3 elevated and the receptacle 1 distended under the weight of the bed clothing, which may thus be drawn close up about the patient and over the receptacle, so as to protect the patient from drafts without interfering with the use of the inhaling device.

It will be evident that the weight of the frame 7 will hold the central part of the bottom layer 2 in close contact withthe center of the chest of the patient, allowing the ends of said layer to assume the curvature of the sides of the chest and lie in close contact therewith. This is of importance in collecting the body heat of the patient and transmitting the same to the interior of the When the receptacle when vapors are to be generated in said receptacle and such vapors kept in a vaporous state. Close contact of the layer 2 with the chest is also of importance when a medicament containing a vaporizable substance or substances is applied directly to the chest or to the layer 2. The medicament used may be a salve consisting of a. petroleum base containing the volatile crystals of essential oils or healing agents, or it may be in the form of a vaporizable liquid. In the case of a salve, the medicament may be applied to the chest or to the absorbent strip 2, and in the case of a liquid a suitable cup 16 for the reception of a sponge 17 and a desired quantity of the liquid may be used and may be held by spring clips 18 on the member 8. In either case the healing agents will. be volatilized by the heat from the body and the vapors therefrom will be received in the receptacle 1 and discharged through the outlet 6 for use.

It will be observed that, as the bottom and top strips of the receptacle 1 arev directly joined at their outer longitudinal edges and connected at their front edgeson opposite sides of the outlet 6-by the triangular walls 5, the upward pressure of the frame member 9 will spread said top and bottom walls mainly at the center. As a result the central portion 3 ofthe top wall will be inclined or sloped upwardly and forwardly to a major extent and the end portions of the top walls similarly inclined to a less eX- tent, while said portions 1 will be inclined or sloped also in an upward and inward direction toward the central portion 3 of the top wall. Hence the portions 3 and 4 will act as deflectors guiding the ascending vapors toward the central front outlet 6. Thus while a receptacle of ample size to receive an adequate quantity of vapor at all times is produced, all the vapor may be discharged through a relatively small outlet and thereby concentrated and emitted in such close proximity to the mouth and nostrils of the patient that the surrounding atmospheric air inspired by the patient will be densely impregnated with the vapors; By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the device will be supported on the chest of the wearer suf ficiently close to the mouth and nostrils to saturate the inspired air with the vapor, but not so close as to prevent the patient from breathing in a requisite amount of air. Normal respiration will, therefore, be permitted and waste of vapors prevented, while the air inspired will be impregnated with just the right proportion of healing vapor to give the proper therapeutic effect. The walls 3, 4 and 5 being made of impermeable material it will be obvious that no escape of vapor can take place therethrough, and accordingly all the vapor will discharge through the outlet 6. In the collapsing of ceptacle formed of flexible material, said the receptacle 1 the walls 5 fold accordionfashion-so a to secure compactness.

In order to guide the vaporsfrom the out let 6 close to the mouth-and nostrils of a patient whose head is supported in a lOW position, a vizor-like front deflector 19 may be provided; This reflector i9 is provided with depending side walls 2O abutting against the walls 5, and said deflector is provided with a central tongue 21 which may be slidably fitted between the frame member 9 and top wall portion 3, whereby thedeflector is detachably held in position. The deflector may be made of the same material as the top wall; and will guide the vapor sufflciently close to the -mouth and nostrils to insure its inspiration with the air. The deflector may be removed when it is desired to collapse the device for storage. If desired, the tongue 21 may be provided with a slot or opening for passage of a spring stud 22 on the top 3 for additional security in making use of the tab llto hold the deflector in position T he device willbe found of great value in treating irritations or diseases of the respiratory tract, inthat by .its use'a medicated vapor may be supplied within the zone of respiration of thepatient for inspiration with tlie aiiywhereby the inspired air will be impregnated withthe healing vapor and the vapor carried therewith into the most remote portions of the respiratory tract. By its use also the treatment may be carried on during the night as well as the day, so that a constant supply of the healing vapor to the seat of. the trouble may be furnished. It will be found of special value in relieving irritation and allaying coughs liable to disturb the sleep of the patient, thereby enabling the patient to obtain a refreshing.

sleep, as well as to obtain the value of carrying the medicated vapor to the extreme portions of the lungs during sleep when .the inspirations are deepest. It will be understood from the foregoing that the device may not only be used for supplying medicated vapor without local chest treatment but ma also be employed for the double purpose of utilizing the vapor from a medicament applied directly to the chestsothat the value of internal as well as external treatment maybe simultaneously obtained. 'Other advantages of theinvention will be apparent from i the foregoing description.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. An inhalation device comprising a rereceptacle having top and bottom walls longitudinally joined at their rear edges and connected by folding side walls at their front edges, said side walls being. spaced to provide an interveningoutlet, and a frame adapted to fit within the central portion of said receptacle to hold the top and bottom walls thereof spread in line with said outlet.

2. An inhalation-device comprising a flexible receptacle having a centraloutlet. in a side thereof and having a porous ba'seand an impermeable top, a removable frame fitted within the central portion of said receptacle for holding the bottom and top portions spread in line with the outlet, and

means carried 011 said frame for holding a supply of a suitable volatile medicament.

.3. An inhalation device comprising aflext blereceptacle having an outlet,.and a frame composed 'of spring-pressed top and bottom members fitted in said receptacle for hold- 'ing the top and bottom wallsthereof spread,

the bottom member of said frame being composed of perforate material.

4. An inhalation. device comprising a flexible receptacle having an outlet, a frame composed of spring spread membersremovably'fitted within said receptacle for hold= ing the top and bottom walls thereof spread,

means. removably supported on said frame" top wall portions being formed of an im-' permeable material'and its bottom wall of" a permeable material, and adapted to receive and. confine vapor from-a suitable volatile medicament,-ancl' means for directing the vapor toward the mouth, andnostrils of the person.

6.- An inhalation device comprising a res;-

ceptacle formed to provide sloping top wall portions and a bottom wall and having an opening through the side wall thereof, said receptacle being flexible to adapt the same to the chest portion of a human body,said 1 top walliportions being formed of an impermeable material and its bottom wall of a permeable material and adaptedto receive toward the mouth. andnostrils of the person, and means for holding said receptacle distended. r l 7 7. An inhalation'device comprising a receptacle formed to provide sloping top Wall. portions and a bottom Wall and having an 'opening through the side wall thereof, said receptacle being adapted to rest upon the chest portionof a human body, said top wall portions being formed of a flexible imper- "11.5 and confine vapor from a suitable volatile medlcament, means for .drrectmgthe vapor.

meable material and its bottom wall of a flexible permeable material, and adapted rel able volatile medicament, means for directing the vapor toward the mouth and nostrils of the person, and means for holding said receptacle distended.

8. in inhalation device comprising a collapsible receptacle formed to provide sloping top wall portions and a bottom wall and having an opening through the side wall thereof, said top wall portions being formed of :1 flexible impermeable material and its bottom wall of a flexible permeable material, said receptacle being adapted to receive and confine vapor from a suitable volatile medicament, said bottom wall being adapted to contact the body of the person whereby the heat from the latter is transmitted to the interior of the receptacle, means for directing the heated vapor toward the mouth and nostrils off the person, and means for holding said receptacle distended.

9, An inhalation device comprising a collapsible receptacle formed to provide sloping top wall portions and a bottom wall and having an opening through the side wall thereof, said top wall portions being formed of a flexible impermeable material and its bottom wall of a flexible permeable material, means within said receptacle for holding a supply of a suitable volatile medicament, said bottom wall of said receptacle being adapted to contact the body of the person whereby the heat from the latter is transmitted to the interior of said receptacle, means for directing the vapor from said heated medicament toward the mouth and nostrils of the person, and means for holding said receptacle distended.

10. An inhalation device comprising a collapsible receptacle formed to provide top wall portions and a bottom wall, the central of said top wall portions sloping rearwardly and connecting an intermediate portion of the rear edge of said bottom wall, the oppo sitely disposed of said top wall portions sloping outwardly and rearwardly 'r-om said central top wall portion and connecting the rear edge and end edge portions of said bottom wall, spaced front wall portions connecting the't'rontedge portions'oi the oppositely disposed portions of said top wall portions and the front edge of said bottom wall, the space between said front wall portions forming an opening at the front of the receptacle, means for holding said receptacle distended, means for securing the receptacle in position on the chest portion of the human body, means within said receptacle for holding a supply of a suitable volatile medicament, and means extending from the opening between said front wall portions for directing vapor from said medicament toward the mouth and nostrils of a person.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSIAH H. WILLIAMS. 

